Description
BBC journalists Nelson and Hollingham offer an irreverent and sometimes humorous guide to selected scientific advances in biology, computer science and physics. Each of the eight chapters takes what the authors see as a popular fantasy and explores the science needed to bring the fantasy to life. The titular chapter, for example, illuminates the world of cloning and modern reproductive techniques; “How to Build a Robotic Servant” brings computer technology and artificial intelligence to the fore; “How to Lose Your Love Handles” introduces readers to a discussion of genetically modified crops; and “How to Clean Up Your Neighborhood” is the vehicle for an examination of black holes and Einsteinian physics. Although the tone is light and the text peppered with corny humor (“These cells, taken mostly from skin, are then culturedwhich sounds as if they were exposed to opera and classical music and taught deportment….”), the authors do present a basic introduction to some cutting-edge science. What becomes powerfully clear is that while science has made enormous strides in recent years, it’s very far from being able to turn fantasies into reality. Copyright Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Sue Nelson is an award-winning science correspondent for BBC News.Richard Hollingham is a journalist and presenter for BBC Radio.
